Transatlantic middle-market private equity firm
Rhône Group
- HeadquartersNew York, NY S2
- Founded1996 S2
- Websiterhonegroup.com
- Last verifiedOctober 22, 2026
At a glance
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on S2 |
|---|---|
| Geography | North America, Europe S1 |
| Sectors | Industrial & Manufacturing, Consumer & Food |
What Rhône Group buys
Rhône Group is a private equity firm founded in New York in 1996 that has raised about EUR 10 billion and backed more than 45 companies. It invests in mid-sized and larger businesses on both sides of the Atlantic, mostly in the industrial and consumer sectors, and specializes in two kinds of deals: buying divisions that large corporations want to sell, and partnering with founding families and entrepreneurs. It prefers companies that already sell internationally and can grow across borders.
About half of its 17 active companies are based in the US, including Copperweld, a Tennessee maker of copper-clad wire bought from Kinderhook in 2025, Freddy's, the Wichita burger and frozen custard franchisor, Paragon Films, Wahoo Fitness, Lummus Technology and Sweet Oak. Rhône invests from Fund VI, raised in 2022, and does not publish revenue, EBITDA or check-size criteria. Its deals are large, so a smaller owner is most likely to meet Rhône through an add-on to one of its platforms, such as DHCare, which agreed in June 2026 to buy Ottobock's mobility products division.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before October 22, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | Ottobock Human Mobility divisionDHCare signed an agreement to carve out and buy Ottobock's wheelchair and mobility division | Add-on | Source | |
| Feb 2026 | DHCare (Invacare Europe and APAC, Direct Healthcare Group)Fund VI bought Invacare's operations outside North America and UK-based Direct Healthcare Group and merged them as DHCare; the deal closed January 30, 2026 | Platform | Source | |
| Sep 2025 | CopperweldBought the only US maker of copper-clad steel and aluminum wire from Kinderhook Industries | Platform | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Sep 2025 | Freddy's Frozen Custard & SteakburgersBought the Wichita-based burger and custard franchisor from Thompson Street Capital Partners | Platform | Consumer & Food | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S3.
Austria
- RHI Magnesita
Germany
- ASK Chemicals
Italy
- Illy
Norway
- Orkla Food Ingredients
Spain
- Maxam
- Fluidra
United Arab Emirates
- Vista Global
United Kingdom
- DHCare
- Baker & Baker
United States
- Copperweld
- Freddy's
- Sweet Oak
- Paragon Films
- Wahoo
- Lummus Technology
- Wellbore Integrity Solutions
- Rexair
Greymont’s take
How Rhône Group fits a seller
Rhône suits owners of sizable industrial or consumer businesses, especially family companies and corporate divisions that already sell outside the US. Its team is split fairly evenly between New York and Europe, so it can help a US company expand abroad or bring a European business into the US. Its recent US deals were purchases from other private equity owners: Freddy's from Thompson Street Capital Partners and Copperweld from Kinderhook, both in September 2025.
Rhône publishes no size criteria, but its holdings include publicly listed companies and multi-country groups, so it is rarely a buyer for a small business on its own. Owners should ask how large a company must be for Rhône to treat it as a new platform, and whether Rhône plans to grow the business through acquisitions, as it is doing by building DHCare.
Questions owners ask
Does Rhône invest in US companies?
Yes. Eight of the 17 active companies on its portfolio page are US-based, including Copperweld, Freddy's, Paragon Films, Wahoo, Lummus Technology, Wellbore Integrity Solutions, Rexair and Sweet Oak.
What kinds of deals does Rhône do?
It focuses on carve-outs of corporate divisions and partnerships with founding families and entrepreneurs, mainly in industrial and consumer businesses. DHCare, formed in January 2026, combined a carve-out of Invacare's operations outside North America with Direct Healthcare Group.
Which fund is Rhône investing from now?
Its investors page says it is investing from Fund VI, established in 2022. It also runs separate accounts for some investors and a co-investment program for existing limited partners.
Sources
- S1Rhône Group home page Accessed October 22, 2026
- S2About Rhône Group (history and strategy) Accessed October 22, 2026
- S3Rhône: Our portfolio (active portfolio companies) Accessed October 22, 2026
- S4Rhône: Investors (Fund VI and investment principles) Accessed October 22, 2026
- S5Rhône: Copperweld portfolio page (investment date September 2025) Accessed October 22, 2026
- S6Rhône: Freddy's portfolio page (investment date September 2025) Accessed October 22, 2026
- S7Rhône: DHCare portfolio page (investment date January 2026) Accessed October 22, 2026
- S8Closing the Circuit: Kinderhook Sells Copperweld to Rhône (September 9, 2025) Accessed October 22, 2026
- S9Invacare Europe and Asia Pacific Combine with Direct Healthcare Group Creating DHCare (February 4, 2026) Accessed October 22, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Rhône Group. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction